Boat.



G. DUBOIS.

BOAT.

APPLIGATION FILED AUG. 27, 1912.

1,084,320. Patented Jan. 13. 1914.

y Mfg COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH m.,wAsH1NoTON, vnr.

GEORGE DUBOIS, 0F CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

BOAT.

instaat).

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed August 27', 1912.

Patented Jan. 13, 1914.

Serial No. 717,405.

To all whom t may concern Be it known that T, GEORGE DUBOIS, a subliect of the Emperor of Germany, and a resident of Chicago, Cook county, Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Boats, of which the following is a specification.

The essential object of this invent-ion is to provide a collapsible boat, which, when packed for transportation occupies a very small space, but which can easily be set up and made ready for use.

Tn the drawings, Figure l is a top plan view of a boat constructed as hereinafter described; Fig. 2 is a side elevation; Fig. 3 is a. transverse section on the line 3 3, Fig. L); and Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3, showing the parts in the positions respectively assumed when the structure is collapsed.

At the bottom of the boat is a board 1, which lies in a` substantially horizontal plane and at right angles to the keel 2. The keel 2 does not extend the full length of the bo-at but is of the. length most clearly shown in Fig, 2 of the drawings. Ribs 3, which are preferably arranged in pairs are hinged to said bottom board 1 by hinges 4. An oval frame 5 is provided, said frame being shaped according to the shape which it is desired to give to the top ofthe boat. Those ends of the ribs 3 opposite to the hinges 4 are adapted to bear upon the under surface of the frame 5. When the boat is collapsed the ribs 3 will lie in substantially the same plane as the bottom 1 and the frame 5 (see Fig. 4), but when the boat is in use the ribs 3 will each be in a substantially vertical plane and will keep the bottom 1 and the frame spaced apart from each other (see Fig. 3).

Secured to the keel 2 and to the frame 5 is a member 6, the construction of which is bestshown in Figs. 3 and 4. Said member 6 is secured to the frame and to the keel in any substantial manner, but the preferred construction, and the one depicted in the drawings, is a series of strips 7 and bolts 8 which clamp the fabric to the keel and to the frame. Said member 6 is formed in two sections, each section extending from how to stern of the boat and forming an entire side and onen half of the bottom of the boat. Each section of member 6 is formed of at least two layers of sheets of suit-able waterproof fabric, the sheets or layers being integrally united or otherwise secured together so as to form an air-tight space 11 between the adjoining sheets or layers. There will, obviously, be an air space 11 on each side of the boat and the valve 10 is connected by suitable pipes or ports 9 to each of said spaces 11.l Compressed air from any suitable source of compressed air supply, such as a. portable bicycle pump or the like, is forced through said ports 9 and into the spaces 11, thus permitting each section of the fabric member 6 to be infiated like an ordinary pneumatic tire.

As best shown in Figs 3 and 4, the fabric member 6 is composed of both an inner layer 13 and an outer layer 14, this construction resembling that of the ordinary double tube pneumatic tire. If the outer casing 14 should perchance become torn or defective, the inner casing 13 ordinarily will still remain unharmed, and since there is practically absolutely nothing coming into contact with a. boat which might tend to puncture the inner casing as frequently happens to the inner tire or casing of a vehicle tire, it is obvious that the inner casing can nearly always be depended upon to be filled with air. Because of the fact that the inner casing 13 is filled with air, the buoyancy of the boat is greatly increased and the possibility or probability of its sinking correspondingly diminished. The inner casing 13 can be kept inflated at all times even when there is no immediate expectation of using the boat, but when the ribs 3 and their parts are pushed into extended position both the inner and outer casings will assume the positions depicted in Fig. 3 of the drawings.

lVhen the boat is in collapsed condition, as shown in Fig. 4, ribs 3 will lie in a substantially horizontal plane and the inflated fabric 6 will be relatively loose upon the framework, as shown in said Fig. 4. When it is desired to use the boat, however, the framework, which comprises the bottom members 1 and- 2, the ribs 3, and the oval top frame 5, must be set up, and this is done by causing each of the ribs 3 to swing upon its hinges to vertical position, and thus force the frame 5 as far as possible away from the bottom of the boat. Since the iniiatable fabric 6 is secured both to the frame 5 and to the bottom, said fabric will be stretched as the skeleton of the boat is moved to setup position, and each section ,of said fabric member 6 will form one side and one-half of the bottom of the boat. As shown in Fig. 3, the outer edges of the ribs 3 are curved, and when the skeleton or framework is set up the ribs will bear against the inner surface of each section of the fabricv member and thus cause said member 6 to assume a shape conforming to the shape or curvature of the ribs 3.

As hereinbefore stated, the position of the parts when the framework is collapsed is shown in Fig. 4, and the position of the same parts when set up in Fig. 3, Preferably the air from the air spaces ll is allowed to eX- haust through valve l0 when the boat is collapsed, and the framework is set up while the spaces 11 are empty because it is easier to set up the boat then than it is to work with the parts after the members 6 have been inflated. In setting up the boat, therefore, it is customary first to move the ribs to vertical position, thus stretching the fabric member, and thereafter to force the compressed air through the valve l0 and ports 9 into the air chamber 11.

As hereinbefore stated, the fabric l1 may be made of any suitable waterproof material and it is preferable that the members 6 be composed of rubber or rubberized cloth. The construction of said member need not differ materially from that of the casing of of the invention or of the claim.

I claim as my invention:

A collapsible boat comprising a framework formed of a bottom, a gunwale, and a plurality of ribs therebetween7 a fabric member secured to said bottom and said gunwale, said fabric member comprising a water-tight outer casing and an air-tight inner casing, there being an air space within the inner casing, and a portin communication with said air space.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto affixed my name in the presence of two witnesses.

GEORGE DUBOIS.

Witnesses E. R. GoLDsMiTH,

CARL BUEHLER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the "Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. C. 

